‘My Everything’/’Is It Bad’/’Want To’/’Like’ Victor J Sefo was born and raised In Napier. Of Samoan descent, from the villages of Siumu & Mulivai Safata, Victor is passionate about creating music daily. He is a truly independent artist, working full time in music - writing, producing, mixing and releasing his own songs. 2018 was his breakthrough year, where Victor released his first singles, achieving number 1 on Hawaii radio. He was also confirmed as a finalist for the Breakthrough Artist of the Year, at the 2019 Island Music Awards in Hawaii. Victor J Sefo has been performing at major festivals, such as One Love Festival, East Coast Vibes, Headliner for Sekifest in Samoa, Australia & NZ, and completed summer tours with Sons of Zion & Tomorrow People. With over 15 singles released to date, Victor has achieved a huge following online – with combined streams of over 35 million!! This means he has amassed more YouTube views, Spotify, SoundCloud views than even some of today's established artists. This success, saw Victor J Sefo recognised at the at the 2020 Pacific Music Awards, receiving the Phillip Fuemana Award – for Most Promising Pacific Artist. Victor J Sefo loves home cooked feeds and coffee in the arvo. He is always motivating everyone around him to push to be great in whatever they do. Victor loves his parents and they are the main reason why he is going hard in his music, so that he can set them up for life. Vallé, born Enjalas Jenkinson, knows it all too well. After leaving his home of Papua New Guinea for New Zealand with his mother to receive treatment for malaria, Jenkinson has continuously worked for the life he won back from death. Believing his family is the reason for his connection and empathy for others, he uses the stories he’s experienced with them to detail every walk of life he walks on and the journey he chooses to experience. His first release in 2018 was “Love Me”, which showcased he was willing and ready to write his heart out and show what he was capable of. Having a style that is a fusion of R&B and hip-hop but melodically pop/radio friendly, Vallé shows that his ear and pen for music are equally gifted. Telling people “music got into me”, Vallé saw every time music reached out it’s hand to him, he grabbed it and ran with it hand and hand. Drawing from a wide range of influences that include Van Morrison, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan to just name a few, he brings these influences on the stage where the fire from his life truly comes alive. On his debut mixtape, Care For Me, Vallé combines his influences with his roots to subtly walk his listeners through not only his mind, but his heart as well. Believing time and place is important for every story he wishes to share, Vallé released his latest single, “Trip Advisor” to give even more of himself and his culture for others to truly understand. The more he learns and grows, his resilience for life, himself, and family as well, he continues to push forward. Multi award-winning, chart-topping urban artist TY (Tyree Tautogia) has travelled a long and winding road since his early days making mixtapes with fellow Smashproof members Deach and Sid Diamond. A Papatoetoe native of Niuean descent, TY is a rapper, songwriter, musician and producer. Over the past ten years TY has firmly established himself as a solo artist, clocking up over eight million views and streams on YouTube and Spotify, across three albums; Now Or Never, Motivation and One Hundred. TY has toured extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, gaining an extensive fan base. TY also started his own label in 2010, Empire Records, signing artists such as Cody Wave, bKIDD and Tazman Jack. TY’s new music project carries themes of love and support throughout, which reflects his positive state of mind after a tumultuous 2-year period. Behind the scenes of his successful album ‘ONE HUNDRED’, the pressure TY put on himself to live up to a reputation, had some detrimental effects on the way he was living. With a young family to support and constant pressure to live up to a status, TY lost his way, and was saved by the love of his wife, his children and his church. In his new music he shows a more sensitive side, and talks of the man he wants to be, rather than the man he is expected to be. His latest releases are ‘Drive’ and ‘Never Too Far’. Outside of music, TY has worked as a teacher aide at Auckland’s Rosehill Intermediate School, and has a passion for his children as well as fitness training. ‘Afio Ane Loa’ Directed by Tree Manu & Quincy Filiga Mrs Tree Tree, South Auckland-Mangere NZ native, Samoan; bringing a fresh passionate, warm, empathetic and empowering enfusion of sounds embracing her Polynesian roots. At 29 years of age; Tree is an independent artist, musician, singer/songwriter, producer, and director. Tree is passionate about using her voice and art as a vehicle to inspire the youth and empower women. Her debut album was released on New Years Eve of 2020 Mrs Tree featuring hit singles 'Can We', 'Me and You', 'Everything To Me', 'No Fear', 'Afio ane Loa' and 'Think Again' and went on to chart in the Official NZ Music Charts for 6-7 weeks following the release. In a year of such uncertainty, she shares "it has been a great joy and success to have it out and shared for all people over the world and I pray it has brought inspiration and positivity to all as it did for me" Tree has also launched her own Production Company 'ASQUARED PRODUCTIONS LTD', as well as a shared business venture, independent record label, BLK ENTERTAINMENT LTD' together with reggae sensation artist and husband Swiss. Tree has performed at One Love, was a headliner for the main stage at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival and is now currently touring Australia, with plans to tour NZ, USA and Hawaii. She has also recently released her collaboration EP with Swiss, Mr & Mrs. Next is a self produced and directed visual Delux album to ‘MRS TREE’. TREE is an embodiment of strength, heart, hard work, soul, and truth. You can definitely sense it in her music. An experience and light beam for all, with more soulful music to come. ‘This Is X’ Tenelle Christine Luafalemana is a Grammy-recognized artist, whose natural beauty and wholesome smile permeate on stage, captivating listeners with her soulful sultry sound. Tenelle’s love for singing started at an early age, having grown up in Carson, California with a big family, where talent shows are more competitive than professional showcases! As a child, Tenelle recalls listening to artists such as Lauryn Hill, Betty Wright, and Gwen Stefani, while watching films such as the original Sparkle, dreaming of the big stage. Years later she would find herself on that stage performing her #1 hit singles "Flava" and "Get Some" in front of hundreds and thousands of people all over the world including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and the U.S. ‘Dragon Fruit ft. Louis Baker’ Team Dynamite formed in the late 2000s after aspiring teenage MCs Lucky Lance and Tony Teez decided to take hip hop beyond their weekend freestyle sessions at a local park. An introduction to producer Haz Beats provided the beats they were missing, and suddenly Team Dynamite was a legitimate group, building a reputation for dance-floor friendly hip hop and becoming mainstays of the Young Gifted & Broke collective. The group released The Demo Tape in 2010, Shepherds Delight in 2014 and Never Again EP in 2015. They’ve collaborated with a who’s who of New Zealand music including Che Fu, @peace, Laughton Kora and Bailey Wiley. Their high energy live show saw the group play major festivals including Homegrown and Rhythm & Vines, and be invited to support Ladi6 on a nationwide tour, as well as supporting international acts - sharing the bill with DJ Premier and Pete Rock was a highlight. Team Dynamite has been quiet for the last few years, save for a few singles to keep fans intrigued. They’ve focused on other projects - music and otherwise. Tony is a youth worker, Lance has a clothing brand and Haz continues to make beats and produce music, notably for Avantdale Bowling Club and Miloux, as well as touring with the re-formed Home Brew. Their latest project Respect The Process was released March 5th 2021 and sold its first pressing that week. The album peaked at No 1 on the NZ charts and No 2 overall. The seamless fusion of soulful melodies and hard-hitting rap delivery are just a few aspects of STNDRD’s rapid rise to acclaim in their first 18 months of releasing music. Born and raised in Otara, the 3-man group carry Samoa and South Auckland in everything they create. Since their debut single Poly People was released in 2019, they have released 13 tracks that give voice to important messages of self-belief and self-love, mental health awareness, ignoring negativity and many other topics relevant in today’s social climate. They consistently release music that is positive, uplifting and authentic to who they are and their experiences as young Pasifika men. STNDRD first took the music scene by storm with their 2019 release of ‘My USO’ which was closely followed by the viral ‘My Uso (Remix)’ that featured BIGGs 685, Masi Rooc, Ron Moala and Lisi. ‘My Uso (Remix)’ quickly became an anthem for Polynesians worldwide and has since amassed over 3.3 million streams on Spotify and over 5 million views on YouTube with many artists and fans alike dubbing the hit single a “timeless classic”, and rightly so. In 2020, they released their EP Keep it STNDRD, and began 2021 with a bang, collaborating with HP Boyz’ member HP ONIT on hit single ‘TG’. STNDRD headlined their first live performance in April 2021 for PASIFIX, in Melbourne, where they proved that they have what it takes to captivate and engage a packed live audience. Not ones to just settle or be complacent in their craft, you can guarantee that STNDRD’s next project will take it to the next level with the production of their debut album in the works. ‘Aiga’ Hailing from South Auckland, SHEPHERDS REIGN have stamped their mark on the New Zealand and international music scene. Shepherds Reign is a Polynesian Metal band and seem to be a world first. The band is made up of 5 Pacific, Māori and Asian brothers, Filivaa James, Oliver Leupolu, Gideon Voon, Shaymen Rameka and Joseph Oti-George. Unlike any heavy artist, Shepherds Reign bring a captivating and enthralling sound with the use of the Samoan language, instruments and culture, making it an integral part of their live show. Their single ‘Le Manu’ has garnered huge praise and has had over 2 million YouTube views. They performed as special guests of Devilskins’ for their 15 date RED NZ tour in 2020 (one of the first tours in the world post-lockdown). This cemented a place for Shepherds Reign as a force to be reckoned with and won them a huge swathe of new fans. The new single ‘Aiga’ promises even more. ‘Aiga’ is a brutally powerful song live, and is a nod to the support and love the band have for and from their family, friends and community. The song is heavy and arresting with its combination of deep metal grooves and ancient ancestry. It has power, an intimidating presence and indisputable hooks. The perfect showcase for this extremely talented and united band. With support from NZ On Air, the stunning video shot by Dave Thompson from Imaginary Friends, captures the gravitas of the song beautifully, it’s sheer power and class. Shepherds Reign have the chemistry, the heart, power and especially the songs to hit the international stages alongside any of their heroes. Welcome to their Aiga. |
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